Barclaycard stops using Sandals

Complaints about discrimination against gay and lesbian couples by Sandals, which specialises in holidays for heterosexual couples, have prompted Barclaycard to stop using the company in its promotions, according to a report in the Pink Paper.

Barclaycard was advertising its online banking service through a prize draw with Sandals, which has a number of all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean.

Sandals states in its advertisements that only 'couples over 18 [one male, one female]' are welcome.

The promotion prompted the publication of a letter in the gay and lesbian-rights newspaper complaining about the policy. Barclaycard responded by saying it would no longer be working with the company.

Gary Hoffman, chief executive for Barclaycard, wrote in a letter to the Pink Paper : 'I fully understand how some of the prize arrangements have caused offence and really regret the inadvertent mistake which led to the situation. We will not be working in future with any suppliers who do not meet our high standards on these important issues.'

A spokeswoman for Sandals was quoted as saying: 'We are aware that Barclays have issued an apology over the promotion of our holidays and we presume that we will not be dealing with them in the future.'

The Pink Paper added that other publications carrying advertisements for Sandals had also received complaints from gay and lesbian readers.